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Civil servants demand decent housing allowances

By editor
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The Civil Servants Union of Zambia, CSAWUZ, has challenged government to give civil servants decent housing allowances.

CSAWUZ President, Leornard Hikaumba, said the current housing allowance of between K100,000 and K200,000 were not realistic and wondered how government expected the workers to afford descent housing.

Mr Hikaumba said civil servants were now asking to consider giving them decent salaries though not equivalent to those of Directors and Constitutional office holders.

He was speaking in Livingstone yesterday when Secretary to the Cabinet, Joshua Kanganja, officially opened the biannual delegates conference of the Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia at Fairmount hotel.

Mr Hikaumba said civil servants were not supposed to be getting less than K450,000 housing allowance and blamed the problem on union leaders, who he said have kept quiet.

He said the union would not be intimidated with any threats next year, saying there were no dissenting views from the political leaders, whenever salaries for constitutional office holders were being increased.

Mr Hikaumba said while it was imperative that civil servants follow the Code of Ethics, he wondered how corruption was going to be fought with lean salaries that civil servants were currently getting.

He also challenged government to do something about the global financial crisis that was affecting the world.

“We challenge you to do something about this global crisis. As civil servants, we don’t want to be sacrificial lambs through the loss of jobs,” he said.

And Mr Hikaumba called on unions in the country to work together and form one solidable union that will have impact on government.

He said the current fragmentation of the union system in the country had weakened the trade unions thereby making it difficult to negotiate for better conditions of service.

And Secretary to Cabinet Dr Kanganja said it was agreeable that the housing allowance rates that civil servants were getting were unrealistic given the prevailing rentals on the market.

He, however, said there was need to move fast in broadening the tax base as there was need to create wealth that could be shared.

Dr Kanganja also noted that government would endeavor to do the best in terms of housing allowance and urged the civil servants to be professional in their conduct.

On constitutional office holders, Dr Kanganja said every time there was an increase in the salaries of civil servants, constitutional office holders also received a similar percentage.

ZANIS/ENDS/FM/SJK

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

116 COMMENTS

  9. WHO ON EARTH CAN AGREE TO RENT THERE HSE FOR 200,000 .WHAT IS THIS GRZ UP TO PIPO I ZED R TAKEN FOR A RIDE.
    WELL WE R A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY. [-([-(

  10. This is when Hiks decides to talk? and he has the nerve to even blame fellow union leaders for his inadequacies? What cheek.
    Iwe Udyela and your friends are not. Honestly, for a senior union leader, i think Hikaumba is a wrong chap altogether.

  12. True. The government should for once be realistic in their dealings. Accommodation in Zambia is proving to be very expensive. E.g in Lusaka, a one bedroomed one a middle residential area is about 1m going upwards. Honestly, what is 100pin? That’s being unlogical :o)

  17. I REMEMBER SOMETIME BACK THAT HIKAUMBA GOT THE LATE PRESIDENT UPSET WITH HIS COMMENTS. A REAL SMOOTH TALKER
    DOUBLE TOUGH 8-|

  18. Ba Rashid

    Shani? Nabwelako mudala.
    The problem is that the union leaders are eating with the politicians and have forgotten whose interests they are supposed to be serving.

  19. Ati Ba moze, Matworld-Nice guy, Real Baby C, Chewe and everyone else. Buzy watching Man U’s game. Baby C kwena ulimudimandi, nabanakashi kumo.Civil servants deserve better.

  20. shoe string – totally agree! A servants quarter in lusaka is at least K500,000. Surely this is taking a mockery of our civil servants! If they can’t afford allowances govt should look into building houses and accomodate them instead! With the vast amount of land we have it may be a cheaper option but it should start to solve a problem!

  22. “Unions to form one solidable union”. Now you are talking Hikaumba. Do what you can to help the masses. Twachula pafula – rentals, ubunga, electricity bills, school fees, medical bills , other basics name them.

  24. Ba Moze, When is the term of office for Hikaumba finnishing cause i think he has been the ZCTU president for too long? Let others enjoy also.

  25. **==**==**== #8 atleast u have said something today $ what compound is that?

    yes cival servants needs better housing allowances. sofar am impressed with wat has been done to the police,particularly ndola camps have houses being put up,thats good…

  26. RASHID JONES
    WE ARE NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT MAN U.STICK TO THE SUBJECT.THAT IS WHY AT SCH U DIDNT TO WELL U NEVER FOLLOWED INSTRUCTIONS.
    GET THE BIG PICTURE [-(

  29. While I agree on the need for decent housing for the civil servants, I have a great problem with their work culture. So if somebody spends their time doing nothing or only their personnel stuff during officially regarded work hours. I am a serious tax payer and would not like my money to be paid to somebody who is busy moonlighting when I work very hard at my place or work.

  30. The H/A is a big joke coz u cant find accom any where even mu shanty,so for one to live decently they resort to corruption.

  31. Let me first thank you Ba LT for putting a new topic.You can even see by yourselves that All bloggers needed the letest news.just go through all their comments that they have made so far.Iwe mwe ma Bloggers banandi Muli Nshimbi and you are all good pipo.

    Now the issue at hand.How I wish Hakainde was like Hikaumba,the Dude Hakaide has disappeared,when we need him.anyway Hikaumba thanks for standing up for the civil servants.i tell you 200pin is not enough,and its not that civil servants get it every month no they are paid may be after six months.Iwe kanganja You have enough money to waist on the entourage that kunda has gone with ku central.what are you talking about iwe.

  32. #16 Thankx, I can now imagine. Why can’t those 500 citizens relocate to the somalian waters and leave that king to rule himself??

  34. Things are really getting tougher by the day pa Zed. The civil servants have suffered for along time. In other countries, Civil servants are well taken care of, because they are the backbone of the country. I hear ba police gets K1,500 as security allowance. sad indeed. :o)

  35. LT website is FREE 4all,each person to his/her own opinion.Therefore i see no reason why sum pipoare botherd wth wat their friends are posting.If u dnt like them,skip them and muv on.Simple as that……….

  37. Hey, let’s put the govt on it’s toes. We need decent accommodation. Them (ministers) have nice houses for doing nothing

  42. Zoe

    No need to be discreet about “some people”. Just name them. For example, this SHOESTRING chap who keeps poking his nose in other peoples comments. I agree with your sentiments Zoe.

  43. Ba Moze,Mossad-Kgb has already given you the scores. Where has this chap called SHOE fimo fimo come from? you must be very dull and i think you need Alangizi to teach you manners cause you have no manners not even bad ones.

  44. Lusaka

    I don’t totally agree with your statement. We are talking about employees who have been neglected by their employer in a long run. look, these employees are not being motivated thats why the have developed such a bad attitude towards work.:o)

  45. Mat world

    Aletu settinga Shoestring ka? Twalafulwa. Rashid munandi sana.
    Anyway, like i said, Hikaumba has been busy eating with RB. If he had been putting pressure on the Govt these things would be things of the past. Alelya fye ena.

  46. ZOE FREE FOR ALL IN DEED.SO MOVE ON AND SKIP MY COMMENTS .ITS NOT ABOUT U.
    WE ALL KNOW THAT .THATS WHY U R BUSY ON THE SYSTEM WANTING TO MONOPOLIZE IT.
    IF YOU HAD TO PAY I BET YOU WOULDNT AFFORD IT .
    PROBABLY YOU R AT A FRIENDS PLACE(EVEN WHEN THEY DONT WANT U THERE)

  49. Even Doctors in Zed get such amounts for housing allowances. Such kind of allowances have demotivated people, like all the teachers are busy with tuitions and not their normal classes. Because they’ve to make ends meet. Its surprising that the Veep has even taken a tour with a bunch of ministers just pocketing the our tax money they get by ‘P’. Its very sad, just endure bros ans sis. We need to give these MMD guys the :-t

  52. Iwe Ka Shoestring

    Ichindike mwaiche. Sindine size yako ayi? Just go back to where you came from. Here, tupelana umuchinshi. Ichimutwe Kwati ni bread. Wabomusana kwati liplanga. atase.

  54. #38 Matworld Yeah am back. I got bored with the same news items and so took a break. How was the akabwali pa lunch? Don’t worry, your days of cooking for yourself are numbered.

    #44 Pinkley You surely know garbage in … Most civil servants are lazy to the core. If only I could decide which govt ministry my taxes would contribute towards.

  55. MY 2009 RESOLUTIONS
    1. Don’t believe politicians.
    2. Break at least one traffic law.
    3. Don’t drive a motorized vehicle across thin ice.
    4. Avoid transmission of inter-species diseases.
    5. Stop blogging on LT.
    6. Divorce the other three wives.
    7. Get wired with high-speed net connections at home.
    8. Don’t swim with pirhanas or sharks.
    9. Associate with even worse business clients.
    10. Spread out priorities beyond ability.
    11. Wait around for PRESIDENTIAL opportunity.
    12. Focus on the faults of others.
    13. Mope about faults.
    14. Never make New Year resolutions again’

  56. For those men (and women) who are active regardless of what time of the day it is, here is a Palindrome: a sentence or word that reads the same backwards and forwards. SEX AT NOON TAXES. Nice day and happy blogging

  57. MOZE BIG NOSE.I CAN CREAT YOU IN A TEST TUBE WITH YOUR SMALL LITTLE FRIENDS-RASHID JERK JONES AND ZOE I CAN BUY THE ALL LOT
    OF YOU TWO AND THEN SET YOU ON FIRE 8-}

  61. **==**==**== #34 pinkely,

    am afraid,is it k1.5m or just 1pin 5,the one i spend on 3sticks of consulate? iye tata mayo,what a risking allowance!! tel me something man, thanks for that sad info….

  63. MOZE BIG NOSE USE ENGLISH.YOUR HEAD IS LIKE A SLICE OF BREAD.
    NO WONDER YOUR LITTLE FRIENDS SENT ME A MESSAGE TO TELL YOU THAT U R MOZE BIG NOSE.U R LIKE RB

  64. #58 Matworld, I could courier you kapenta ya nkwangwa. Would that be good?

    #60 Ba Moze Kumvela ni mvela but ni ziko yakayena

  65. Lusaka. its not about the notion of garbage in..garbage out…

    Its all about motivation. Do you think you can have a good attitude towards work if you employer gives you 600pin per month???? :o)

  66. #57.Shoe Strig.Iam begging you stop that,you are a very nice person.Iknow you are offended,but please find room in your heart to embrace forgiveness.please my dear do me a favour.

  67. SHOE STRING, You a coward and please take your problems somewhere else. ulichipuba sana.Ba Moze forget about this chap. He has poverty manners

  68. Lusaka

    I will really appreciate.kuno we only have Chicken,beef and spinnarch as the only Veg.in february this year i came with Vinkubala (1 gallon) ala ninga tu police kunipoka pa OR Tambo Airport notaya mu Bin.I tell you I got mad.

  69. Shoe string

    I know your kind mwaiche. You want to distract me from real issues. Just know that uli chipuba and that you are a scared little man hiding behind the blogg. Akalumba fye, i would have thumped you. You are not worth it.

  70. DICTIONARY OF EVALUATION COMMENTS:
    Some of you might like to know what the supervisor is really saying in all those glowing employee work performance evaluations:

    AVERAGE: Not too bright.
    EXCEPTIONALLY WELL QUALIFIED: Has committed no major blunders to date.
    ACTIVE SOCIALLY: Drinks heavily.
    ZEALOUS ATTITUDE: Opinionated.
    CHARACTER ABOVE REPROACH: Still one step ahead of the law.
    UNLIMITED POTENTIAL: Will stick with us until retirement.
    QUICK THINKING: Offers plausible excuses for errors.
    TAKES PRIDE IN WORK: Conceited.
    TAKES ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPERTUNITY TO PROGRESS: Buys drinks for superiors.
    INDIFFERENT TO INSTRUCTION: Knows more than superiors.

  71. #68 Matworld, we will send those policemen litghtening. How would they throw the vinkubala in the bin like that. Maybe, the minute you disappeared, they went and got them. Ok, still this is the season of inswa and sontwa. Which would you prefer?

    #69 Ba Moze my bro, musiyeni uyo shoe lace. he has nothing better to do. he’s not worth your thumps

  73. TACTFUL IN DEALING WITH SUPERIORS: Knows when to keep mouth shut.
    APPROACHES DIFFICULT PROBLEMS WITH LOGIC: Finds someone else to do the job.
    A KEEN ANALYST: Thoroughly confused.
    NOT A DESK PERSON: Did not go to college.
    EXPRESSES SELF WELL: Can string two sentences together.
    SPENDS EXTRA HOURS ON THE JOB: Miserable home life.
    CONSCIENTIOUS AND CAREFUL: Scared.
    METICULOUS IN ATTENTION TO DETAIL: A nitpicker.
    DEMONSTRATES QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP: Has a loud voice.
    JUDGEMENT IS USUALLY SOUND: Lucky.
    MAINTAINS PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE: A snob.
    KEEN SENSE OF HUMOR: Knows lots of dirty jokes.
    STRONG ADHERENCE TO PRINCIPLES: Stubborn.

  76. hi pipo. mushe mwikala pa internet? nway, hikaumba is a sheer time waster, he should’ve been advocating for better conditions for civil servants day in day out – but to no avail.
    ba moze:
    man u 4 life!^:)^

  77. FELLOW bloggers,

    listen to me carefully. I have decleared war with FINE. Where ever you see FINE tell me i will handle him. Please dont foget to remind me whenever he shows his urgly face.

    Pilishii bloggers keep an eye on him.

    Thanks.

  78. An old man was sitting at the bar, when a young man came in with a mowhawk haircut dyed different colors. He sat down next to the old man and noticed that the old man was staring at him. Finally the young man asks the man “What the hell are you staring at! Didn’t you ever do anything crazy when you were a kid?” The old man pondered for a moment and replied “Yeah, I scr’wed a peacock and I was wondering if you were my son.”

  81. Oh! Lusaka

    You are reminding me of my poor Mother! She loves Mbeba so much,she is from this funny province called eastern.She is a lovely Mama.

  82. That K100,000.00 is now Chiken change!! RB increases his and dunderheads salaries and claim there is no moni….wat rubbish!! :-l

  83. something need to be done on accommodation crisis in zambia especially pa lsk. maybe they should regulate rentals. cabin mulsk ati cottage 500,000. Gvt please just pay them dont even waste time discussing it. ata bane

  86. #81 Matworld All the women from this funny province called Eastern Power are all lovely. That is were yours truly comes from

  87. Lusaka

    Hear,Hear, Hear my sister.
    At least some sister has had the nerve to confirm the beauty of our women in the East..
    Now, (cough, cough) we the men from the East are also (clearing Throat)….handsome. :d/

  88. Lusaka.

    What a blessing,That is my prayer,I tell you pipo form that province are lovely.My mum has done alot in my life.I owe her a jeep and I owe you a Benz.I have really missed her,I have’nt talked to her for two weeks now.I have been trying to call her but all my efforts are in vain.What is happening with your Zain.She is at the Farm>Iam just worried she might finish all the Mice(mbeba) in my Cage.

  89. Ba Moze men from East are ugly,I guess you are the only handsome one Koma Nkece zeve ni Zii.Handsome men are found in Luapula and Northern Province.

  92. Iwe chi Shoe Lace 😕

    Just shut up and go and continue cleaning your boss’s car. You are nothing but a:@) in sty. You disgust me and just drive me~X(

  93. #88 Matworld. Rephrase your sentence to read “… all my efforts are in Zain”. I will be counting on the jeep and the roses. Remember?

    #89 Ba Moze my brother, speak with courage. Do not let anyone make you feel that you are not that handsome. Ati Beauty lies in the eyes of the beer-holder.

  94. Shoe string .well come to the bloggers.i like what you have said about MOZE BIG NOSE.Its a nice name .What is the size of his nose?

  96. Lusaka

    I have read about the promise of the car from Matworld. I’ll hold him up to it and ensure that he buys you one my sister.

    Iwe chi sad connections, wafunina kwi? 😕

  97. You cannot bargain for what you do not know, The civil servant should communicate how much they get for Housing Allowance? Put God first in all you do.
    Amen

  98. MOZE BIG NOSE.DONT MESS WITH ME NO WONDER U R BEING TOLD THAT U R CHI MONA BY LUSAKA .WELL DONE BRO, U SHOULD SEE THE SIZE OF HIS NOSE ITS THE FIRST THING U WILL NOTICE ON HIM [-(:d/:d/

  100. Lusaka

    I will buy you a car,a BMW(BE MY WIFE) my dear,after all you worthy more than that.

    Ba MOZE for being there for my dear babes I will buy you a Nissan HardBody.

  108. Hey pipo pliz give RB a break he will die without achieving anything he thot presidency is about going to mfuwe, and sitting in the office,The man knows nothing and those who voted him they dont reason mweeeeeeeeeee.

  109. ‘CSAWUZ President, Leornard Hikaumba, said the current housing allowance of between K100,000 and K200,000 were not realistic and wondered how government expected the workers to afford descent housing.’

    Renting a servant’s quarter pa-Northmead costs 500 pin and housing allowance is that low. Zambians let us be serious with our politicians governing us.

    Next elections are around the corner and so let us careflluy consider bring ‘ecHi-ecHi’ into leading Zed at the helm in 2011.
    =;

  113. Hikaumba has become irrelevant to the civil servants union of zambia, let alone as president of the zambia congress of trade unions…300pin for housing?…..motivation is what drives out put…look at the private sector, workers, even the lowest paid, are motivated through various ways…a bonus at the end of the yr etc…now if u pay someone 300pin for housing and a salary way below the food basket..which is compiled by the CSO, a government institution…what do u expect…som1 being in the field trying to make a living, thats why corruption in gvt will never end..its, luk @ the civil service in namibia, botswana,pipo fight to work there…in zambia, training ground…fyashupa

  115. Hikaumba uli wa ma double standards.The housing allowance song has been played by you, and you never follow up issues to the ultimate conclusion.Now you want to blame abanobe?? Awe!! just put presure on RB,he may be more logical than the rest!!!!!!!! The time to act is NOW!! Nga fyashupa, na ma strike yalabomba,BUT there is no need,because only selfish people can argue that 100-200 pin is enough to rent reasonable housing pa ZED.

  116. “The Civil Servants Union of Zambia, CSAWUZ, has challenged government to give civil servants decent housing allowances.”

    I wish the Undereducate, Micheal Chilufya Sata, was a Union leader in place of Mr Leonard Hikaumba. I am sure the aggrieved workers would have had a better Union leader and good representation to the GRZ. Unfortunately, the Undereducate has litlle education and is past his civil service possible working age.

    :-w, Mr L. hikaumba is trying but things are seemingly not working to his advantage.

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